WEBVTT THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLE RACINGFANS ARE TAKING OVER MAZDARACEWAY LAGUNA SECA THIS WEEKENDFOR THE SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP.THERE IS A LOT OF ANTICIPATIONTO SEE IF THE DEFENDING CHAMPWILL KEEP HIS TITLE, BUT FANSARE ALSO HONORING THE LATE NICKYHAYDEN, WHO PASSED AWAY EARLIETHIS YEAR.ACTION NEWS REPORTER BIANCABELTRAN HAS MORE. BIANCA: THE ROAR OF THE ENGINES,THE DEATH DEFYING TURNS.THE WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIPKEEPS RACING FANS ON THE EDGE OFTHEIR SEATS.>> THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THEMAND GOD IS ASPHALT.THEY ARE AMAZING, SKILLEDATHLETES.IT IS FUN TO WATCH.BIANCA: HERE IS THE STEEP DROPTHAT MAKES THIS RACEWAY FAMOUS.>> I LIKE WATCHING THE GOAROUND THE STRAIGHTAWAYS.IT IS SO EXTREME.BIANCA: THIS YEAR, THE LAGUNASECA RACEWAY IS MISSING A CROWDFAVORITE, NICKY HAYDEN, WHO DIEDIN AN ACCIDENT EARLIER THISYEAR.>> THIS WAS A SPECIAL PLACE FHIM AND OUR FAMILY.HE WON A LOT OF RACES HERE.SOME OF HIS BIGGEST RACES.PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN THEIRAPPRECIATION A EXPRESSED HOWHE TOUCHED THEIR LIVES HERELIVES.HE HAS MADE A LOT OF POSITIVEIMPACT.BIANCA: FANS OF THE KENTUCKY KIDWERE DEVASTATED BY THE NEWS. HE IS CALM, AND WHEN HE RACESHE IS AN EXPLOSIVE GUY.HE IS SO GOOD.>> HE WAS OUR CHAMPION.IT HURTS THE WHOLE SPORT, LOSINGHIM.HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS RACING,BUT I THINK HIS BEST QUALITYWITH HIM AS A PERSON, AND I HOPEHE KNOWS THAT AND REMEMBER THAT.BIANCA: REPORTING FROM MAZDARACEWAY LAGUNA SECA, BIANCABELTRAN, KSBW ACTION NEWS LAUREN: THIS EVENING, THERACEWAY IS HOSTING A TRACK WALK

Thousands of motocycle racing fans are taking over the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend....for the Superbike Championship. There is a lot of anticipation to see if the defending champ will keep his title. But fans are also honoring the late Nicky Hayden who passed away earlier this year.